Sep. 23, 2026
Community partnership brings a locally rooted story of courage and confidence to young readers across Knoxville and the surrounding region
Toyota Material Handling Midsouth (TMH Midsouth) is celebrating the next chapter of its longstanding presence in Knoxville with a new facility—and an investment in the community it has served for years.
During an open house today at its new location at 5100 S. National Drive, TMH Midsouth announced a partnership with My Magic Tux and Knox County Schools centered around the distribution of 500 copies of My Magic Tux: A Big Orange Story of Courage and Confidence throughout Knoxville and the surrounding region.
At the heart of the initiative is a donation of 289 books to Knox County Schools, providing a copy of My Magic Tux to every elementary school library in the district as well as every kindergarten classroom. Signed copies will also be shared with guests attending TMH Midsouth’s Knoxville open house, with the remaining books slated for donation to additional schools throughout the region.
“Knoxville has been an important part of TMH Midsouth for years, so this new facility represents an investment in a community we’re already proud to call home,” TMH Midsouth President Shawn Jones said. “As we celebrate this next chapter, we wanted to do something that extended beyond our business. Putting 500 copies of My Magic Tux into our communities gives us an opportunity to share a message of courage and confidence with children and families while supporting the schools and communities we’re fortunate to serve.”
Written by J.R. Greene and Joe Shands and illustrated by Nicholas Child, My Magic Tux is the first children’s picture book published by the University of Tennessee Press. Inspired by Greene’s real-life experience as the “Big Orange Tux Guy,” the story follows Tuxie on a distinctly Tennessee journey that encourages children to find their courage, build confidence and embrace what makes them unique.
“One of the most rewarding parts of sharing the My Magic Tux story has been seeing how it connects with parents and children,” Greene said. “Thanks to Toyota Material Handling MidSouth, almost 400 elementary schools and libraries will provide opportunities to read this story and see that believing in yourself and having the courage to dream big can open the door to incredible possibilities. Plus, a little magic.”
With its Big Orange roots and connection to the University of Tennessee, My Magic Tux is a story born from the Knoxville community. Proceeds from the book support literacy, education and lifelong learning through the University of Tennessee.
“My Magic Tux making its way into the hands of Knox County students and other local schools is exactly what we hoped this book could accomplish,” UT Press Director Katie Hannah said. “We are grateful to Toyota Material Handling Midsouth for helping make that possible. When our community comes together to encourage a love of reading and learning, we can make a real difference in the lives of children.” “We often say we can’t do this work alone, and I want to thank Midsouth Toyota for this generous donation, said Dr. Jon Rysewyk, superintendent of Knox County Schools. “Rocky Top is an integral part of Tennessee history, and we appreciate this opportunity to share this story with our students. We hope it inspires a love of reading while encouraging students to believe in themselves and their potential.”
The announcement was made during TMH Midsouth’s Sept. 22 open house celebrating its move to 5100 S. National Drive in Knoxville. Customers, partners and members of the community were invited to tour the new facility from 1 to 4 p.m. ET, meet the TMH Midsouth team and receive signed copies of My Magic Tux while supplies lasted.
The new facility builds on TMH Midsouth’s existing presence in East Tennessee and its continued commitment to serving businesses and communities throughout the region.
For Jones, celebrating the move through a community-focused initiative reflects a broader philosophy at TMH Midsouth: growth creates more opportunities to serve.
“We’ve built our business around people, service and excellence,” Jones said. “A new facility gives our team new opportunities to serve our customers, and we want it to create new opportunities to serve our community, too. We’re grateful to be part of Knoxville and excited about what comes next.”
About Toyota Material Handling Midsouth
Toyota Material Handling Midsouth is a locally operated Toyota forklift dealership and material handling solutions provider serving businesses across the Midsouth. As an authorized Toyota forklift dealer, the company’s core business is providing businesses with the equipment they need to move, store and manage materials safely and efficiently.
Beyond new and used Toyota forklifts, TMH Midsouth provides a full range of material handling support, including equipment rentals, service, parts and warehouse solutions. The company partners with businesses to understand their operational challenges and deliver solutions designed to maximize productivity, improve safety and keep operations moving.
Toyota Material Handling Midsouth’s vision is to be known for its unwavering commitment to people, service and excellence.
About My Magic Tux
My Magic Tux: A Big Orange Story of Courage and Confidence is written by J.R. Greene and Joe Shands, illustrated by Nicholas Child and published by the University of Tennessee Press. Inspired by Greene’s true story as the “Big Orange Tux Guy,” the children’s book encourages young readers to embrace courage, confidence and what makes them unique. My Magic Tux is the first children’s picture book published by the University of Tennessee Press.
Contact:
Alison Burger
Account Manager
Toyota Material Handling Midsouth
931-319-6621
[email protected]
Bailey Ly
